Perth to get three of Australia’s first 10 suburban uni ‘study hubs’ making tertiary education more accessible

Three of the first 10 suburban university “study hubs” to be unveiled in Australia will be located on the outer fringes of Perth. Aimed at making higher education more accessible for people living in outer suburbs, the WA hubs will be set up in Armadale, Ellenbrook and Mandurah. Study hubs provide study spaces, access to computers, video conferencing and academic support so that students can take a university or TAFE course without having to leave their community. Chosen after a competitive application process, the sites are expected to be operating by mid 2025. More than 40 study hubs already exist in regional areas, but the Albanese Government decided to expand them to outer city locations after a report found they improved the number of students studying and finishing their qualifications. “We know they work,” Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said. “The evidence is they increase the number of people going to uni and finishing a uni degree.” According to local government data, 13.8 per cent of Mandurah residents aged between 15 and 64 have a university degree, 18.2 per cent of Ellenbrook residents and 21.6 per cent in Armadale. “Almost one in two young people in their 20s and their 30s have a university degree today,” Mr Clare said. “But not everywhere. Not in our outer suburbs and not in regional Australia. That’s why we are doubling the number of university study hubs, to bring university closer to them.” In total, the Government is investing $66.9 million to establish 20 more regional university study hubs, and 14 new suburban university study hubs.